Music-roll for mechanical musical instruments.



C. A. AHLSTROM.

MUSIC ROLL FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6. 1914.

1,136,577. Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

HE NORRIS PETERS CO. PHOTO LITHO., WASHINGTON, D. c

C. A. AHLSTROM.

MUSIC ROLL FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5. WM.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

IHE NORRIS PETERS 50.. PHOTULITHO WASHINGTON. D, C.

icense.

'UNTTED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

CHARLES A. AHLSTROM, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK.

MUSIC-ROLL FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. AHL- sTRoM, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Music-Rolls for Mechanical Musical Instruments, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The invention relates to music rolls for mechanical musical instruments such as piano players and the like; and the object of the improvement is to provide, first, a music roll spool having novel means for positively adjusting the length of the spool so that the end flanges will not bend and break the edges of the music or note sheet but preserve them in correct form so they may be guided in true alinement in the rapid rewinding of the spool; and the invention consists of the novel features and combinations hereinafter set 'forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the roll cabinet of a player piano, showing the manner of attaching the note sheet to the lower roll spool and the central enlargement of the shaft of said lower roll spool. Fig. 2 is an elevation of one of the end flanges of the upper music roll spool, a portion of the tubular shaft and the folds of the note sheet being shown in section, and showing the manner of adjusting said end flange in its relation to the end of the shaft and the edge of the note sheet, the end flange being shown in the closed position; and Fig. 3 is a' similar view of said parts with the end flange in the open position. Fig. 4 is a lengthwise sectional view of the end flange and a portion of the shaft and the note sheet thereon with the parts in the closed position, showing the exact relation of said parts. Fig. 5 is a crosswise sectional View at line X X in Fig. 7, the plug or stop being removed and showing an elevation of the inner end of the flanged end of the spool. Fig. 6 is an elevation of the end of the interior holding block or plug for the end flange, showing the form of the projection thereon with the stops or rests each side of the same for adjusting the length of the spool. Fig; 7 is an elevation of the up-' Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filedApril 6, 1914 Serial No. 829,864.

. per spool, showing the manner of attaching the note sheet thereto So as to obtain a central draw on the music sheet to cause it to run true. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the upper spool with the note sheet rolled thereon, and showing the inner side of the lower end of said note sheet and the manner of attaching the flexible loop thereto for attachment to the lower spool. Fig. 9 is a lengthwise sectional view of a modification of the upper roll, showing both ends adjustable and the changes necessary for attachment to the spool holders.

Like numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 10 designates the shaft or central portion of the upper music spool,

which is preferably made of some light form of tubing like wood fiber or paper.

The numeral 11 designates the shaft of the lower music spool which is preferably turned from wood so as to provide the central groove 12 for the hook 13 which receives the flexible loop 1 1 on the lower end of the music sheet 15. Said shaft 11 is centrally enlarged and tapers to both ends from the central portion to cause the note sheet 15 to run truly in line with said shaft 11 as it winds onto the same, the main drawing points being the centrally enlarged portions each side of the edges of the groove 12, since these are the two highest points in the shaft. A similar centrally enlarged effect is given to the shaft 10 of the upper roll by the manner of attaching the note sheet 15't0 said shaft 10. This is accomplished by means of a tapered strip 16 of flexible material, preferably strong cloth. A portion of the broad end 17 is glued around the shaft 10 and the narrow end 18 is glued or otherwise attached to the note sheet 15, and the strip 16 is of sufficient length to pass a number of times around the spool 10, gradually diminishing in width with each circumference of said spool, so that the plurality of Wraps or layers form a tapering construction which is centrally enlarging in its effect. Both ends of the note sheet 15 are tapered toward the center to receive at the upper end the attachment to the narrow end 18 of the strip 16 and at the lower end the flexible loop 14 for attaching to hook 13 on roll 11.

' groove 12. The ring 19 is unnecessary, but since many note sheets have the same the cord loop 11 may be passed through said ring so that said ring acts as a guide for.

the same. The cord loop 14 is made of sumcient length to permit the note sheet free dom of adjustment upon the orownlng shaft 11, the flexible nature ofthe cord loop giving perfect freedom for such adjustment.

-The numerals 21 and 22 designate the flanged ends of the upper spool which are formed with the outer cylindrical flanges 23 and 24, the flange 24 being formed with internal projections 25 for the spool holder for turning said spool. It is usually necessary to adjust only one flanged end, pref- Y erably the flanged end 21, but both ends 21 modification in Fig. 9.

and 22 may be adjustable, as shown in the The adjustment of the flanged ends 21 and 22 should be as positive and yetvas' simple as possible so that said flanged ends can not get outv of order and spoil the action of the spool. Accordingly a block or plug 26 is fastened within the tube 10 at a spaced dis tance from the end thereof, which plug 26 has a diamond shaped end projection 27' formed by the opposite stops or shoulder bearings .28 and 29. The opposite corners 30 of the projection 27 are rounded slightly between stops 28 and 29. The inner end of the projection 31 within the tube 10 has a crosswise channel or out which providestwo projecting flanges 32 which fit onto the stops 28 and 29. The stops 28 and 29 form graduated steps which positively'hold the flanged end 21 at a certain distance from' the edge of the music sheet 15. A strong attaching screw 33 is inserted through the center of the flanged end 21 into the end of the plug 26. Suflicient play is given as shown at 34 between said flanged end 21 and the head of the screw 33, so that said flanged end 21 may be withdrawn sufliciently to turn the same from the deeper stops 28 to the shallower stops 29, the. central portion 35 of the projections 32 being hollowed out slightly so as to pass smoothly around the corners 30 of the projection 27 on plug 26.

It is now obvious that with the spool in the closed position the flanged end 21 may be grasped and the end withdrawn slightly until it strikes the head of the screw 33, and

while grasped by the hand the turning shaft will cause the plug 26 to automatically turn to the other steps, thereby lengthening said spool and holding it positively in position, and since the spool continues to turn in the same direction in rewinding the end 21 will beheld in said position without further holding means than the stop 29, and after the rewinding'the'flanged end 21 may be returned to the closed position by simply turning the same and pushing inward. For certain forms of 'muslc sheets it is sometimes desired to adjust both the flanged ends 21 and 22 and it is apparent that this simple'form of adjustment may be attached to both ends of the spool without in any wise departing from myinvention, as shown in Fig. 9. It is preferable, however, to use a flat headed screw 36for the endf22 instead of the round head preferred for end 21, since the spool holder for turning the spool is dif ferent shape for that end.

I claim as new 1. A music roll spool comprising a shaft and flangedends on said shaft, a plurality. of stops of different depths in said shaft and a projection on one of said flanged ends toengage said stops to hold the flange of said flanged end at different distances from the edge of the music roll. r I p 2. A music roll comprising a shaft and 3. A music'roll spool'comprising a tubularshaft, flanged ends on said shaft extending into the same, a plurality of positive stops flanged ends on said shaft, a plurality of stops 1 for said flanged ends within said spool, and

means permitting turning said flanged ends from one'of said stops to'another to adjust said'flanged ends in relation to the music roll. r

shaft, flanged ends on saidshaft extending into the same, a plug fastened in said shaft a spaced distance fromitsend, stops or steps in said plug on different levels on adjacent sides, and a screw through said flangedend permitting the outward and inward move ment of said flanged end to change it from one stop to another.

5. A music roll spool comprising a tubular shaft, flangedends on said shaft extending into the tubular end of thejsame, a plug fastened in said shaft a spaced distance from the end thereof corresponding to the eXten-' the inner end of each of said flanged ends i. A-music roll spool comprising a tubular formed to fit over the ends of said plugs and In testimony whereof I have aflixed my to permit the change of said flanged ends signature in the presence of two Witnesses. from one level to another on said stops, and

a screW' in each of said plugs extending CHARLES AHLSTROM' through each of said flanged ends to limit Witnesses:

the outward movement thereof, substantially H. A. SANDBERG,

as and for the purpose specified. HAROLD FORSBERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

